Ramblings of an Emergency Physician in Texas

After years of legal wrangling and a showdown in front of the Supreme Court, the federal government has finally begun to implement the Affordable Care Act’s controversial individual insurance mandate.

Starting on Jan. 1, 2014, Americans will have a choice: Buy basic health insurance, qualify for an exemption, or pay a penalty when filing federal income taxes, according to proposed regulations issued Jan. 30 by the Treasury Department and the Health and Human Services Department.